Dev D
What do you get if you cross today’s dark side, a classic story, freedom of thought and an ensemble of worthy professionals? Dev D! It leaves you spellbound with never-imagined craze on the Indian cinematic canvas. Its like if Devdas were a palette and the director had his brushes. He stroked, painted, expressed with this maddening vogue and created something which is inexplicable, but impeccable. Weird, true, distressing and entertaining too.

The Story
Even though its the same theme, don’t think of it as a Devdas 2 (or 3). Dev D is not a sequel or a re-make. The film is new & fresh. You must check it out just to realize the boundless creativity in amalgamating various elements to create something quite stunning. The Devdas of today drinks like a fish, snorts cocaine, scores hashish and philanders whenever he’s sane! But Paro and Chandramukhi are very much there, messed up, exploring the story.

The Director
He’s directed Black Friday, written Satya. But this time Anurag Kashyap has really reached the audience ko hila dala stage. Wonder if it was this sheer artistic outburst which made him create this, but truly great work. His caprice has succeeded.

I mean, I went to a ‘chapri’ theatre, full of nuts, whistling taporis and those rarely interested in good cinema. But they applauded at the climax! Congratulations Anurag, for getting a never-expected applause from the Rahul theatre of Pune.

The cast
His tact, his cuteness was personified again. For the girlie types, Abhay has been a treat but somehow clichéd with his identity. You might sometimes feel its Oye Lucky remade. Because the role is pretty much the same, non-responsive, phlegmatic on the whole. Can’t help it I guess, Abhay has a charm which blends well as a spoilt brat who can be forgiven for every deed. Good performance.

Kalki Koechlin & Mahi Gill play Paro & Chanda respectively. Farmer Freshet’s fresh farm eggs fried in farmer Freshet’s frying pans. Their roles are as twisted as this tongue twister. Both are gorgeous, characterized by their expression and proudly don the attire of modern Paros and Chandramukhis.

Conclusion
Truth reveals itself in Dev D. The story and direction rhyme with today’s miserable emotional turbulence, wit, foul play, fun, substance abuse, sexual urge. This is a ‘very’ adult movie, parents make sure you don’t take your kids along. Kids make sure you don’t take parents along. Dialogues are explicit. If you take your art of living group, Dev D’s art of living might just scandalize you enough to leave by the interval. I saw four salwaar-kameez gals leave in the middle with a, “Disgusting! *&^^%$#” attitude. So watch out, but don’t miss it! Cheers Dev D.

By Saloni Mate

Honest. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when u see this flick.

But more than that LBC shows a unique angle along with all that honesty.

Its more human. Here things are not all dark, stark and in your face just because they are honest.

U have characters in grey. The best example of this from the movie would be when Hritik (who plays super star Jaffar Khan) plays and makes monkey faces with the street kids who come for his autograph. The same Jaffar khan slyly excuses himself from an old time producers film, (Rishi Kapoor plays Romi Rolly) to make time for a more successful producer (Karan Johar plays himself).

Vikram Jaisingh played by Farhan Akhtar is a street smart guy from Delhi dreaming of making it big in B town.

He is extremely manipulative and an opportunist to the core. And yet he has an easy charm which works on you. Vikram meets Sona Mishra (Konkana Sen) during his struggling days and they hit it after a meeting or two. There is no great chemistry here but they convince you of their love for each other.

Sona is a casting couch victim for 3 years now and hoping that she would someday have her big film.

But things don’t take off. In parallel vikram gets his big chance of playing the lead Romi Rolly’s film.

He works all the right people, and happens to be at the place at all right times.

And finally his dream comes true.

On the other hand Sona finds success in playing bhabhi’s in TV serials but only after a showdown with Vikram and all the heart break that follows.

Konkana is as usual good. But I feel she could have been better. In some frames she reminds me of her prostitute role in traffic signal (if u haven’t seen that film, good for u). But overall her costumes and makeup could have been better. Apart from that she was outstanding.

Farhan is a refreshing change. The best thing I like about him is that he is always so well dressed.

And finally after Rishi Kapoor we have an actor without any particular mannerism. Very easy going in his acting. And charming to the core.

But I personally think that rishi kapoor even at this age steels the cake. The man is unbeatable as Romi Rolly. It’s kind of a trademark performance.

Hritik and Dimple in an extended cameo are good.

Isha Sharvani looks yummy with passable acting skills.

Songs are good and hummable.

Overall, a definitely watch once film.

Ah! One movie i’d been waiting to see. Not because Zoya is directing it, hell no one knew her before the announcement of this film. I wanted to see the oh-so-talented Farhan Akhtar meet his match in the equally oh-so-talented Konkona Sen Sharma. And its no surprise that he’s done exceedingly well.

Vikram Jaisingh(Farhan) comes from Delhi to become a big time star in the hindi film industry.Ditto for Sona Mishra(Konkona) from Kanpur, albeit she’s been trying her luck for 3 years now in vain. A rather superstitious producer Rommy Rolly(Rishi Kapoor), with a pretty wife Minty Rolly(Juhi Chawla) wants to give his younger bro Ranjit(Sanjay Kapoor) a chance to direct in India. He ropes in Zaffar Khan(Hritik Roshan), a big star and Nikki Walia(Isha Sharvani), the daughter of yesteryears star actress Neena(Dimple Kapadia). How the lives of all these characters are intertwined to form one hell of an emotional drama which at times is hilarious, is what forms the crux of Luck By Chance.

Farhan Akhtar is easily the best actor of the lot. Infact the entire film is centered around him. He delivers from the word ‘go’ and is in fulltoo form. Be it his charm, his muscles, his good looks, his ability to move the audience in an emotional scene, his awe-struck expressions when he enters the film industry and starts meeting the biggies…….et all…..he is just too good. Konkona Sen Sharma is equally competent. She balances out Farhan’s character by providing the other side of the picture…….a struggler who is trying in desperation for 3 long years. Hritik Roshan is good in a small role. His scene with Karan Johar is worth a mention. Isha Sharvani was a revelation……..man…..she embodies Nikki ‘Kapoochi’ Walia with utmost conviction. I was pleasantly surprised…..thought she couldn’t act…..well i’m glad she proved me wrong. Rishi Kapoor is excellent…..his protrayal of a superstitious, rather hassled producer is very good. Juhi Chawla plays the caring wife really well……specially the scene where Rishi breaks down. Sanjay Kapoor…..a total zero as he was springs a surprise….he’s really funny! Dimple Kapadia is first rate as an old star who wants her daughter in the limelight but still misses the attention she used to get. Watch her scenes with Farhan…..they’re too good. Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, both are excellent in their fleeting appearances.

Cinematography is outstanding…….the ‘dead sister’ scene, the entire song Baawre and even the final scene with Farhan’s face on the billboard. Choreography is excellent in ‘Baawre’, the song shot in the circus…..I bet its difficult managing over 50 artistes in a single frame……specially synchronising their steps and also ensuring no one bumps into the other.

The biggest winner however is the story, screenplay and dialogue. Where most films go for a toss, Luck By Chance goes for a hattrick. The characterisation is extremely believable. And hence a special mention to Nandini Shrikent, the casting director….she’s really picked the right person for the right role. Dialogues are extremely well written……Farhan’s praise for Dimple at the party, Farhan’s advice to Konkona at the sea shore, Konkona’s monologue at the end, the Hritik-Karan scene etc. They’re not melodramatic, yet have an impact and seem reasonable for utterances from even normal human beings. In short…..its not overtly filmy lingo(the ‘hey bhagwaan’ types).

Possibly the only glitch in the film is the length of the first hour. Actually its not even the length…..the flow of events is a tad slow…..so, the viewer gets a little bored by the time of the intermission……..that is a different thing that post-interval the film gets better with every passing frame. Could’ve edited the first half a little.

My Verdict: Luck By Chance is a very good film. Surely worth a watch for exceptional screenplay, dialogue and killer performances from any and everyone on screen…….specially Farhan and Konkona.

We all know George W. Bush has been the most talked-about president ever. So a bunch of Indians thought, why not make an English film which even adds to the fun, takes President Bush a level above his usual controversies.

The film is indeed quirky– in fact its quirkier than the rest – the established new trend of the ‘off-beat’ class. It is a focused and tailored assault on Indo-American ethics and President Bush.

It is outrageously funny. Boasting an ‘A’ certificate, you will get to hear all the stuff which is shrouded with beeps on MTV Roadies. Throughout the course of President’s coming to India, you will know what Story writer Anuvab Patel and Director Kunal Roy Kapoor want to inoculate into the audience’s heads. Their approach – a wacky, titillating, out-of-the-box fad. Although it does serve the purpose of telling is how crazy all this is, the diplomacy, the drama, Bush’s futile propaganda of the ‘young face’ responsible for shaping ‘The New India’ etc.

The story is a riot. Conceptually uninvited, but very interesting as an Indian film, its a subtle rage expressed via the fun side of varied Indian characters. Exposing the chaos and the delinquencies in the Indian fabric itself, the film nicely portrays the moral deficiency which is often overlooked by us (especially when Bush is concerned).

Konkana Sen Sharma is herself, she’s so natural that sometimes its hard to figure out there is a script being followed here. New entrants Shivani Tanksale, Imran Rasheed and Ira Dubey are very good too. Splendid Shernaz Patel sweetly adds to the craze.

The movie is a treat to the mature (hah!) audiences. A filler to the boredom, an addition to your ‘watched’ list, a good laugh at the end of the day.