LOOTERA (2013)

Lootera

By Taran Adarsh, 3 Jul 2013, 13:04 hrs IST

Rating: 

Released On: 5 Jul 2013

Directed By: Vikramaditya MotwaneStarring: Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Vikrant Massey, Shirin Guha, Arif Zakaria, Adil Hussain, Barun Chanda, Divya Dutta

Did you ever anticipate Vikramaditya Motwane to put together a period film with mainstream actors, after attempting the brilliant slice-of-life drama UDAAN? Nope, not me at least... But maverick film-makers, by and large, tend to drop a bombshell by opting for a contrasting theme in their ensuing movie. The question is, will Motwane ship yet another dazzling nugget in his subsequent outing? Let's find out...

LOOTERA is inspired by American author O. Henry's short story 'The Last Leaf'. Let's set the record straight by stating that Motwane hasn't adapted the story in its entirety. He has made modifications, of course... the most vital one being injecting the protagonist's character [Ranveer Singh] in the plot, which did not exist in the story. For those not acquainted with the story, it's about this dying girl who watches the leaves fall from a plant outside the windowpane and believes that the day the last leaf falls, she too would pass away. 

LOOTERA is a captivating tale that reverberates with emotions and passion and encapsulates the highs and lows of a stormy relationship magnificently. Penned with utmost sensitivity and crafted delicately and thoughtfully, the film is akin to a beautiful painting on celluloid! 

1953. West Bengal. Varun [Ranveer Singh] arrives in Manikpur. He impresses the zamindar and his family, especially his daughter Pakhi [Sonakshi Sinha], who finds herself drawn towards him.

Soon, Varun and Pakhi are involved in a passionate relationship, but Varun does a volte face and disappears. When truth dawns upon Pakhi's father, he suffers a stroke and passes away. Pakhi decides to move on, determined to forget Varun. She arrives in Dalhousie, but as destiny would have it, Varun walks into her life again...

The premise of LOOTERA may bring back memories of several films. But it's the mood, the ambience, the treatment that lures you into the world of Varun and Pakhi. The old world charm of Bengal and Dalhousie only enhances the impact, while the varied twists in the tale catch you absolutely unaware, especially when one is guessing about what course the storyline would take after a major twist during the interval point. 

LOOTERA bears the look of a classic. The visuals, the shade palette, the objet d'art, the milieu, the apparel... even the way the characters communicate at an unhurried, easygoing pace and share emotions takes you back to the bygone era. 

UDAAN gestured the initiation of an accomplished storyteller's journey and LOOTERA cements it. In years to come, Motwane may emerge as the frontrunner thanks to the plot/s he chooses to narrate and most significantly, the brilliance with which he narrates it. The sparkling chemistry between the actors, the atmospherics, the storytelling... LOOTERA is a demanding film to make, but the director warrants colossal admiration for jubilantly narrating a tale that settles in your heart... and moistens your eyes at varied junctures. 

Of course, the narrative unravels at an unhurried pace, but let's not forget that this one has an old-world charm that cannot be rushed. The moments and pauses are to be enjoyed in a film like this! 

Every frame of LOOTERA exudes sensuality, partly because the chemistry between the on-screen lovers -- Ranveer and Sonakshi -- is scorching. The fervor and passion the two actors emanate on screen, while living those characters, leaves you awe-struck. LOOTERA is further embellished with dialogue that corresponds so delightfully with the premise. The lines are dreamy, romantic and acidic, as per the situation. The contribution by the DoP is equally pertinent, with the frames appearing to be a painting in motion. 

The evaluation would be imperfect without highlighting Amit Trivedi's contribution to the motion picture. The soundtrack is seeped in melody and mirrors the era that the director illustrates on celluloid. True to the concept, Trivedi takes you back to the long-gone period with his melodies. 

While Ranveer and Sonakshi anchor the movie with supreme performances, even the ones in supporting parts leave an ineradicable impact. Ranveer has been entrusted with a complicated character so early in his career. Besides playing an intense lover, he plays a reticent and brooding character, something he hasn't explored in his earlier films. And Ranveer makes the most of it by making the character come alive. The character has disconcerting shades and it is imperative that he uses his eyes to leave a mark, which he does so at a variety of stages. He's simply fantastic! 

Like Ranveer, Sonakshi too gets the most demanding role of her career thus far and what makes it even more complicated for the youngster is the fact that she has to shoulder the responsibility of hauling the film on her shoulders when Ranveer makes a brief exit, only to re-emerge after a point. Sonakshi is a revelation in LOOTERA; her performance is, beyond doubt, top notch. She glides into her part with such effortlessness that it catches you by complete surprise. She's magnificent! 

Divya Dutta is super in a cameo. Vikrant Massey is first-rate. Shirin Guha is appropriate. Arif Zakaria is tremendous. Adil Hussain delivers a punch-packed performance. Barun Chanda, as Sonakshi's father, is brilliant. 

On the whole, LOOTERA is an intrinsically earnest and profoundly heartwarming story that stays in your heart. An absolute must for those who love romantic films or are romantic at heart. This one's a cinematic gem!

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POLICEGIRI (2013)

Policegiri

By Taran Adarsh, 5 Jul 2013, 12:53 hrs IST

Rating: 

Released On: 5 Jul 2013Directed By: K. S. RavikumarStarring: Sanjay Dutt, Prachi Desai, Prakash Raj, Om Puri, Manoj Joshi, Rajpal Yadav, Rajat Rawail, Mukesh Tiwari, Ehsaan Khan, Kishori Shahane, Raju Mavani, Ganesh Acharya, Arun Bali, Murli Sharma, Kavitta Verma

The fight between the virtuous and wicked has been the staple diet of several Indian movies since eons. Although the trend of remaking South Indian films in Hindi was widespread in the 1980s, it got an impetus with films like GHAJINI [2008] and WANTED [2009] in the last decade. Now veteran producer T.P. Aggarwal joins the growing list of film-makers remaking a winning South Indian film. The film in question is the Tamil hit SAAMY, which was subsequently remade in Telugu [LAKSHMI NARASIMHA].

Although a remake, POLICEGIRI brings back memories of DABANGG [Salman Khan] and SINGHAM [Ajay Devgn]. Like the above named films, the protagonist in POLICEGIRI is a cop, delivers thunderous dialogue, bashes up scoundrels like we swat flies and takes on the [corrupt] opponent in the closing stages. No prizes for guessing who wins! 

I don't even wish to forewarn my readers about the essence of POLICEGIRI, since, I presume, most of you must've guessed it by now thanks to its high octane promos. Sure, it relies on the tried-tested-trusted recipe from commencement to conclusion, but I do wish to add that the packaging is polished, with a new brand ambassador endorsing this masalathon. But the unfortunate part is, haven't we visited similar themes in the past? What novelty does it offer? 

Rudra [Sanjay Dutt] is a tough Deputy Commissioner of Police of a town. His mission is to clean up the town from gangsters and make sure that the public live in peace. Rudra adopts a new policy of adjusting with the local goons so that he can serve the people in an effective way. How he gets even with Nagori [Prakash Raj], a corrupt politician, forms the crux of the story. 

Much like the iconic Chulbul Pandey in DABANGG, Rudra in POLICEGIRI is the present-day Robinhood, with a heart of gold. The cop here is *not* pristine white, but grey. He is *not* conscientious either, but accepts bribes and payoffs [of course, he offers an explanation and even produces receipts subsequently!], also calls himself a goon… as a matter of fact, he uses the law to his advantage. But the problem with the film is that it appears more of a collage of skillfully-filmed action sequences than anything else. The premise is archaic and the director relies too heavily on action to take the story forward. In fact, constituents like romance and comedy look forced in the scheme of things. 

Director K.S. Ravikumar, who has a plethora of successful films in South, garnishes the film with features that the masses take pleasure in. The conflict between good and evil is riveting too and so is the pacing [rapid], but with not much newness on platter, the film comes across as the usual cop versus politician fight. The soundtrack is strictly okay, with 'Robinhood' [before the climax] having a catchy tune and energetic choreography. Action, one of the high points of the enterprise, is slick and the dash of Southern masala makes it all the more palatable. Dialogue are aimed at the masses and will be greeted with whistles and applause from fans of desi masala movies, especially those delivered by Sanju. 

Sanju is absolutely at home in this out-to-please-the-junta character. In addition, it's the kind of role that the fans take to instantly and Sanju plays the game well. The antagonist, enacted by Prakash Raj, is equally buoyant. He tends to go slightly overboard at times, but it's a job well done by this proficient actor. Prachi Desai looks appealing, but doesn't get much to do. 

Om Puri goes over the top. Manoj Joshi is as usual. Rajpal Yadav and Rajat Rawail's comedy track doesn't evoke mirth. Ehsaan Khan and Kishori Shahane Vij [as Prachi's parents] get limited scope. Mukesh Tiwari, Raju Mavani and Murli Sharma are passable. 

On the whole, POLICEGIRI is aimed at the single screen audience mainly.

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SHORTCUT ROMEO (2013)

Released On: 21 Jun 2013

Directed By: Susi Ganesh

Starring: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Ameesha Patel, Puja Gupta, Rajesh Shringapure, Jatin Grewal, Errol Peter Marks, Meherzan Mazda, Vrajesh Hirjee, Ashutosh Kaushik, Susi Ganesh, Anuradha Chandan, Yasodhan Bal, Bikramjeet Kanwarpal, Kavita Wadhawan, Neelima Parandekar, Mohit Saluja, Rakesh Kirit Kadakia, Sultan Siddique, Naveen Prabhakar, Mumaith Khan

Just last week, FUKREY depicted the shortcuts the youth of today indulge in to accomplish their dreams and desires. SHORTCUT ROMEO also talks of the shortcut the male protagonist undertakes to lead a comfy life. The film, directed by Susi Ganesh, is a remake of the film-maker's successful Tamil film THIRUTTU PAYALE.

Although a remake, Susi takes the essence and gives it a complete makeover. The scale is larger. Also, a few modifications have been made to cater to the pan-India audience. The plot orbits around blackmail and deceit and Susi makes sure the thriller is embellished with several edge-of-the-seat-moments to create an anxiety-crammed environ. Although the film has its share of blemishes [more on that later], one cannot overlook the fact that Susi knows the grammar of film-making right and makes an impressive debut in Hindi films. 

Suraj [Neil Nitin Mukesh], a good for nothing youth, arrives from Goa to Mumbai. He chances upon a couple indulging in love making on the lawns of a golf course. He shoots the act and later learns that the lovers, Monica [Ameesha Patel] and Ashish [Bunty Grewal], wouldn't mind shelling out a couple of lacs to keep their affair a secret from Monica's husband [Rajesh Shringarpure]. 

Suraj starts blackmailing Monica, demanding money for the footage he has shot. Monica has no choice but to succumb to the blackmail. In the meanwhile, Suraj falls in love with Sherry [Puja Gupta] and has a change of heart. But Monica decides to get even with Suraj and a dangerous cat and mouse game ensues…

Almost 31 years ago, BEZUBAAN narrated the story of a housewife [Reena Roy] trying to keep an affair concealed from her husband [Shashi Kapoor] when a blackmailer [Naseeruddin Shah] comes knocking on her door. Although the plot of BEZUBAAN bears a striking resemblance to SHORTCUT ROMEO, the similarities end there. For, not just the blackmailer, but each and every character in the movie has grey shades. That's one of the prime reasons why this cat and mouse saga seems fascinating. 

Susi embellishes the film with several attention-grabbing moments. The characters of Neil and Ameesha, for instance, give the film the required edge. Additionally, Susi knows how to keep the audience attention arrested. The screenwriting never falls prey to the tried and tested formulaic stuff that Bollywood is known for. Even the conclusion leaves you completely shocked [it's super!], since the spectator had never imagined the film would end on that note. 

The film loosens its grip slightly at times. Besides, the drama leading to the climax could've been crisper. Also, the romantic portions are not as persuasive as the thrilling moments. 

Susi is an accomplished storyteller, no two opinions on that. His handling of a complex subject deserves immense praise. Besides, he ensures that the film bears an affluent, striking look all through. Aiding him in giving the film a rich luster is the DoP, who captures the scenic locales of South Africa dexterously on celluloid. Himesh Reshammiya's music gels well with the mood of the film. 'Khali Salaam Dua' is easily the pick of the lot. Action is, generally, okay, but the one in Masai Mara is top notch. Dialogue are a mixed bag. 

Neil gets a solid part to display his talent and he grabs the opportunity with his hands. The actor, who left a strong impression in DAVID earlier this year, is superb, displaying the varied streaks in his character with flourish. This film could prove to be a game-changer in his career. Ameesha gets an equally challenging character and she's in top form here. Also, she makes sure she doesn't go over the top since that would make her look like a vamp, which she's not. Puja Gupta, who displayed abundant confidence in GO GOA GONE, enacts her part with confidence, although the focus is on Neil and Ameesha chiefly. 

Rajesh Shringarpure is efficient. Jatin Grewal is passable. Vrajesh Hirjee provides a few laughs in the sequence that he's in. Errol Peter Marks, Ashutosh Kaushik and Meherzan Mazda are perfect as Neil's friends. Susi Ganesh [plays the detective] is appropriate. 

On the whole, SHORTCUT ROMEO is a well-made, stylish crime story with high-voltage drama as its highpoint. It may not boast of A-listers in its cast, but it has ample entertainment and edge-of-the-seat moments to offer. I suggest, give this one a chance!

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ENEMMY (LAW AND DISORDER)-2013

Released On: 21 Jun 2013

Directed By: Ashu Trikha

Starring: Mithun Chakraborty, Suniel Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Johny Lever, Uvika Chaudhary, Zakir Hussain, Mumait Khan, Akshay Kapoor, Priyanka Upendra, Deepraj Rana

First things first! Let the title ENEMMY not mislead you into believing that this one's about a war with the neighbouring country or with the extremists. This one's about the battle within: The conflict between cops and gangsters. A recipe that's worked several times in the past…

Without beating around the bush, let me state that masala movies that depict the fight between virtuous/upright and evil/wicked can never go out of fashion. Bollywood has been churning out suchmasaledaar entertainers since time immemorial. Asshu Trikha's ENEMMY too borrows from films of yore. The good news is that ENEMMY remains faithful to the entertainers that masses love and relish. The distressing news is that ENEMMY relies too heavily on unabashed conventionalism, brandishing the same stuff in the name of entertainment.

A thriller set against the backdrop of the battle between the Mumbai mafia and cops, ENEMMY is the story of four officers [Suniel Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Johny Lever and Mahaakshay], who are entrusted with the responsibility of cracking down on the underworld and cleaning up the city by any and all means possible. When the four initiate an investigation and manage to nab Mukhtar [Zakir Hussain], a crime lord, everyone heaves a sigh of relief. However, the relief is short-lived and after a brief spell of peace, the gang-wars start again, shocking everyone.

Deciding to up the ante, the political leader R.G. [Akshay Kapoor] sends a CBI officer [Mithun Chakraborty] to Mumbai to get to the bottom of things. However, what the officer discovers is that the gang-war is merely a façade to find out about a heist, in which hard cash was stolen from Mukhtar, who will stop at nothing to get his money back. The question is... who is crazy enough to steal from the king of the city underworld?

Trikha borrows every ingredient on the shelf that constitutes an entertainer -- cops versus gangsters, fists of fury, heavy-duty drama, item song, clap-trap dialoguebaazi... as a matter of fact, he goes full throttle with the assets available on shelf. This is vintage 80s masala that refuses to age. Once the stage is set, the narrative, although interesting at times, meanders into been-there-seen-that kind of situations, more so towards the penultimate moments. Sure, Trikha tries to integrate a twist or two in the tale, but, again, you know where the film is heading a few sequences later.

The soundtrack too pays homage to the films of yore. The song towards the end credits is the best of the lot. ENEMMY relies heavily on action and the stunts/action do give you adrenaline rush at times. Dialogue are aimed at the hoi polloi.

Although it boasts of an ensemble cast, it is Mithun, the veteran, who stands out with an earnest performance. Suniel is in top form after a hiatus. Kay Kay fits into the masala scenario faultlessly. Mahaakshay shows vast improvement over his earlier works and seems more self-assured and confident now. Johny Lever, cast in a serious role, is alright. Zakir Hussain, playing the menacing villain, is first-rate. He's mean and maniacal without trying too hard.

Yuvika Chaudhary doesn't get much to do. Priyanka Upendra is alright. Deepraj Rana is wasted. Akshay Kapoor plays the mandatory politician well.

On the whole, ENEMMY is vintage masala in a new avatar. This one's aimed at the masses primarily!

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