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Bollywood | Bollywood Watch

HINDI MOVIE RELEASES EXPECTED THIS MONTH
By SHEPHALI J. RELE



Aamir Khan plays DJ in “Rang De Basanti.”
“Rang De Basanti”: Starring Aamir Khan, Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri, Kirron Kher, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, Madhavan; directed by Rakeysh Mehra; music by A.R. Rehman.

If you thought Aamir Khan was featuring in another period drama, guess again. “Rang De Basanti” is a film about contemporary youth set in modern India. After reading the diary of her grandfather, who served in the British police in India during the freedom struggle, an English filmmaker named Sue arrives in India to make a film about Indian revolutionaries. She recruits students from Delhi University to act in her docu-drama. The group includes DJ, played by Aamir Khan, who chooses to stay in the college scene even though he graduated five years earlier. Kunal Kapur plays Aslam, a philosopher and guide to his friends. Karan is the son of a wealthy industrialist; Laxman is a fundamentalist of the bunch; Soha Ali Khan plays Sonia, the vivacious tomboy engaged to the dashing air pilot Ajay. The film shows 1930s India side by side with today’s India and reveals the change in attitude that overcomes the group as they see a country they haven’t acknowledged before. The makers say “Rang De Basanti” is a film about the awakening of a generation. It features a catchy soundtrack by A.R. Rehman.

“Shikhar”: Starring Ajay Devgun, Jawed Sheikh, Shahid Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Amrita Rao; directed by John Mathew Matthan; music by Viju Shah.



Shahid Kapoor and Ajay Devgun star in “Shikhar.”
How far can greed take a man? Can nature ever win the battle with the bulldozer? Director Mathew Matthan explores the theme of man versus nature in his follow-up to the 1999 hit “Sarfarosh.” Ajay Devgun plays Gaurav Gupta (GG), a self-made man, who dreams big and lives life to the fullest. He uses money to realize his ambitions. Jawed Sheikh plays Guruji of Rishivan Ashram, who believes wealth must be used for the good of society. Caught between the two is Guruji’s son, Jaidev, played by Shahid Kapoor. Simple by nature, Jai respects his father’s philosophy but falls prey to GG’s trap and his dreams change. Bipasha Basu plays glamorous Natasha, she loves GG and is willing to do whatever he says. GG uses her to lure Jai into his world. Amrita Rao plays Jai’s childhood friend Madhavi, who tries to warn him but he refuses to listen. She must watch helplessly as Jai gets tangled in GG and Natasha’s deadly web.



More Releases

By Shephali J. Rele



Uday Chopra and Tanisha play “Neal ‘N’ Nikki.”
“Neal ‘N’ Nikki”: Starring Uday Chopra, Tanisha; directed by Arjun Sablok; music by Salim-Sulaiman.

This Yashraj Films production, set across beautiful Canadian landscapes, stars Uday Chopra as Neal along side Kajol’s younger sister, Tanisha as Nikki Bakshi. They play two Indians raised in Canada. Neal is a confident, cool guy who agrees to marry a girl from Bhatinda according to his parents’ wishes. His one condition is a three-week bachelor vacation to Vancouver. Neal scores a date with super model on the first day, but a spunky Indian girl named Nikki ruins it. Through several chance encounters, Nikki spoils whatever Neal plans.

Finally, the two call a truce and become curious buddies after exchanging life stories as they explore the countryside. But wait, just as sparks arise, Neal realizes Nikki has plans to use him. Does Neal cut his trip short and return home? Do they realize what they have been looking for is right next to them? Or is the anonymous girl from Bhatinda the right choice? The makers say nice is out and naughty is in for this fun-filled journey.

“Bluffmaster”: Starring Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Ritiesh Deshmukh, Nana Patekar; directed by Rohan Sippy; music by Vishal-Shekhar.



Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra appear together in “Bluffmaster.”
Stylized con capers seem to be the flavor of the year. This one features Abhishek Bachchan as Roy, a professional swindler who’s calm, cool and smart and considers his work an art form. Priyanka Chopra plays Simmi, an honest and sincere girl who Roy truly loves. Roy can’t confess his life’s reality to Simmi. When past events catch up to him and Simmi discovers the truth, she can’t forgive the deceit and Roy loses her forever. That’s when Aditya, played by Ritiesh Deshmukh, enters. He’s frantic, dumb and untidy, Roy’s total opposite.

Their only common ground, is being conmen. Although Roy considers Aditya an embarrassment, he agrees to teach him the rules of the game. As Roy warms up to his student’s charms, his world is suddenly turned upside down. Someone who could outsmart anyone and anything is suddenly pushed into a corner with no exit. “Bluffmaster” features an upbeat musical score and promises an exhilarating roller coaster ride of laughs, excitement and emotions.

“Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi”: Starring Shahid Kapur, Amrita Rao, Sanjay Dutt; directed by Mahesh Manjrekar.



Shahid Kapur and Amrita Rao star in “Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi.”
This wholesome entertainer for kids of all ages promises spectacular special effects. Shahid Kapur plays Aditya or Adi Chacha, who lives in an inherited house in Mumbai with his grandmother, brother, sister and several nieces and nephews. Amrita Rao is Neha, the children’s tutor, who lives nearby. Everyone wants to see Aditya and Neha together but Aditya wants his sister, Antara, to get married first. Expecting a huge business payoff, Adi mortgages his house for the money needed for his sister’s dowry.

Antara is soon engaged and Adi agrees to marry Neha. Soon after, Adi meets with an accident. In the hospital, a well-dressed man played by Sanjay Dutt arrives with a young boy. Suddenly, the three of them are in the clouds driving away in a luxury car. The dashing character is actually Yamraj collecting souls. Adi convinces Yamraj to let him return to earth for a few days because his untimely death will lead to dire consequences for his family. Yamraj agrees but warms Adi he won’t be seen or heard. How will Adi succeed in solving his family’s troubles? After the more serious “Viruddh,” director Mahesh Manjrekar blends thrills, comedy and fantasy in this family flick.



Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan and Sharman Joshi have a ‘blast’ in “Shaadi No. 1.”
“Shaadi No. 1”: Starring Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Sharman Joshi, Esha Deol, Ayesha Takia, Soha Ali Khan; directed by David Dhavan; music by Anu Malik.

Continuing with his trademark genre of “No. 1” titled films, David Dhavan directs this comedy tale of three friends, Raj, Veer and Aryaan, played by Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan and Sharman Joshi. They are successful and married but always find some reason to complain. Raj loves to party but his wife Bhavana, played by Ayesha Takia, prefers spirituality and pooja in the prayer room. Veer wants an easygoing life while wife Diya, played by Esha Deol, has dreams of becoming an actress. And Aryaan’s wife Sonia, played by Soha Ali Khan, is busy aiding women wanting divorce. Things change for the guys when they come across three beauties named Dimple, Madhuri and Rekha. But their happiness is short-lived when Lucky Bhaiya, played by Sanjay Dutt, enters their lives. His motto is clear, be faithful or live in fear! Lucky Bhaiya will stop at nothing to make the three wives suspicious. The makers say what follows is a fun-filled ride that promises lots of laughs and entertainment.

“Kyon Ki”: Starring Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Om Puri, Rimi Sen; directed by Priyadarshan; music by Himesh Reshammiya.



Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor are paired for the first time in “Kyon Ki.”
After successful comedies such as “Hera Pheri” and “Hungama,” talented director Priyadarshan presents a more serious love story based on the Malayalam movie, “Thalavattam.” Salman Khan plays a charming young man named Anand. He loves a bubbly girl named Maya, played by Rimi Sen. They are planning their life together when suddenly Maya dies in an accident. Anand, overcome with shock, is declared mentally unstable and sent to a mental hospital. Om Puri plays Dr. Khurana, head of the hospital, who believes in a strict regime for the patients. His daughter, Dr Tanvi, played by Kareena Kapoor, along with Dr. Sunil, played by Jackie Shroff has a more sympathetic approach. She treats Anand with compassion and soon he regains his mental balance. Romance between them blooms in the process. Dr. Khurana is furious when he finds out. In an effort to separate the couple, he takes drastic measures with Anand’s treatment. Anand and Tanvi must fight to keep their love alive.

“Home Delivery”: Starring Vivek Oberoi, Mahima Choudhary, Ayesha Takia, Arif Zakaria, Boman Irani; directed by Sujoy Ghosh; music by Vishal-Shekhar.



Ayesha Takia and Vivek Oberoi star in “Home Delivery.”
Popular “Jhankaar Beats” director Sujoy Ghosh offers up more cool and innovative inspirations in this unusually titled film. The main characters are Sunny, played by Vivek Oberoi, a cynical newspaper advice columnist and Michael, played by Boman Irani, an optimistic, simple-minded pizza delivery guy who is lucky to keep a job for two days. Sunny is a prankster who believes he is a self-made man. All of his successes are a result of his own hard work and nothing else. His cynical views extend to marriage and even Diwali. Ayesha Takia plays Jenny, Sunny’s fiancée; she has invited him for Diwali dinner with her parents. But Sunny has greater matters on his mind; he has to complete a prestigious screenplay assignment for Karan Johar. He also has a date with a former filmi superstar, Maya, played by Mahima Choudhary. Maya is looking to make a comeback and uses this opportunity to land a prominent role. Realizing there is no food at home, Sunny orders a pizza, which Michael must deliver. But the makers declare the delivery is much more than dinner! Watch for special appearances by Karan Johar and Juhi Chawla.

“Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara”: Starring Anupam Kher, Urmila Matondkar, Waheeda Rehman, Prem Chopra, Boman Irani; directed by Jahnu Barua; music by Bappi Lahiri.

Directed by national award winner Jahnu Barua, known for Assamese cinema, this film tells the story of a retired man, Professor Uttam Chaudhary, played by Anupam Kher, who lives with his grown daughter and young son. He suffers from periods of forgetfulness and memory loss. As he loses touch with the present, a childhood trauma haunts him – a memory of being accused of murdering Gandhi. Prof. Chaudhary can’t find peace anywhere. He finds himself accused and taunted at every turn. Soon, even his house feels like a prison, and his family the captors. Urmila Matondkar plays the daughter struggling to save her father from the world his mind has created. The narrative tells a simple story of a man’s illness and his daughter’s love and commitment to find a treatment while overcoming obstacles through faith and determination. The film connects this family’s story to the assassination of the father of the nation, Mohandas K. Gandhi. Though the professor repeats, “Maine Gandhi ko nahin mara,” someone killed the man, but his truth survives… he lives as long as his ideals live within us. The film conveys a message on the relevance of Gandhiji in present-day India.

“Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena”: Starring Fardeen Khan, Koena Mitra, Rohit Roy, Kay Kay, Sharad Kapoor, Feroz Khan; directed by Suparn Verma; music by Preetam.

In this stylized crime caper, Fardeen Khan plays Arjun Verma, a cool, self-described super conman. Koena Mitra portrays his seeming partner in crime, Natasha who has plans of her own. Feroz Khan is Jahangir Khan, a smooth talking power broker who rules the Asian continent. Life brings the three protagonists together as Arjun must accomplish the con of his life to save his life. While he makes the big decisions, friends and partners organize the details, fake currency, passports, credits cards. They must match wits with Sikandar, king of the underworld played by Gulshan Grover, a man who rules the city. The makers call it the year's most incorrigible film where everyone outsmarts the other. If you want to match your wits against the best, go for it, they say. Debutant director Suparn Verma considers the movie his homage to every filmmaker who is a conman, magician and hustler rolled into one.

NOW ON DVD/VIDEO



Amitabh Bachchan and Sharmila Tagore are husband-wife in “Viruddh.”
“Viruddh”: Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, John Abraham, Sanjay Dutt, Anusha Dhandekar, Prem Chopra, Sachin Khedekar; directed by Mahesh Majrekar; music by Anand Raj Anand, Ashit Desai.

Reunited on screen after many years, Amitabh Bachchan and Sharmila Tagore play Vidyadhar and Sumitra Patwardhan, a 60-plus couple with one son who lives abroad. The camaraderie between Vidyadhar and Sumitra presents two loving, caring people. John Abraham plays son Amar, who comes to India for a visit and brings along his foreign girlfriend, Jenny. She is readily welcomed into the family but their happiness is short-lived when tragedy strikes. Amar witnesses a crime and gets killed as he tries to intervene. The police arrive and label him a criminal killed during a gang fight in order to hush up the matter. The devastated couple tries to cope with their loss and deal with the stigma of their only son falsely being branded a gangster. They choose to fight the system and a corrupt cop to regain their family honor. Sanjay Dutt plays a former criminal-turned neighborhood car mechanic who comes to their aid. Bachchan and Tagore prove their talents with powerful, poignant performances.

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