Jo Hum Chahein Movie Review

Reviewed by Anna.M.M. Vetticad

Release date:	December 16, 2011
Director:	Pawan Gill
Cast:	Sunny Gill, Simran Mundi

I can see why Jo Hum Chahein’s director Pawan Gill thought his hero Sunny Gill might make it in Bollywood. After all, he’s got a pretty face, he’s tall and trim, and he possesses that quality that most people in our country crave: he’s gora.

But charisma goes beyond that and unfortunately Master Gill does not have it … at least not right now. He’s also got an inexplicable style of dialogue delivery which at times leads to an apparent mismatch between his lip movements and the words emerging from those lips. At first I thought there was an audio sync-out due to some technical issue in the hall where I watched this film, but when I found no audio-video variance while other characters were speaking, I had to conclude that the problem lay with the actor. To make matters worse for this youngster, his debut film is absolutely lacklustre, filled with heavy-handed trite dialogues and clichéd characters, and is boringly predictable.

The story is simple. Gill plays Rohan Bhatia, an MBA determined to make crores while his Daddy wants him to join the defence services. Saying no to being a sainik?!!! I guess that’s Hindi filmdom’s ultimate way of labelling a person a selfish, self-centred “type”. Rohan chooses the stockbroking profession not based on his passions but based on how much cash he’s likely to earn from it. On Day 1 he’s singled out by the star of his firm, Vikram Khurana (Alyy Khan), who takes him under his wing and introduces him to a huge potential client, millionairess Amrita Singhania (Achint Kaur). The lady is another “type” – rich bored single female, unabashed cougar, essentially lonely despite the bustling social life. She’s obviously determined to bed Rohan from the moment she sees him, but it’s not clear whether he is oblivious to her intentions or is playing along while pretending not to realise what’s on her mind. All I know is that Rohan sleeps with her twice but seems not to know how it happened. The look on his face when he wakes up both times is of such incredulity that I thought the film would later reveal that Amrita had drugged him into submission.

Anyway, on a parallel track, Rohan has fallen in love with aspiring actress Neha (former Miss India Universe Simran Mundi) and had a few rolls in the hay with her too. Now figure out for yourself how the rest of the film will pan out. It’s easy!

On the bright side, Mundi is tall, has a lithe figure and in one song shot among rocks and by a water body, wears some of the loveliest dresses given to a Hindi film actress in recent times. Achint Kaur has a fabulous body … which gym do you work out at, lady?!!! Plus …

Okay, I can’t think of any other pluses! Mundi needs acting lessons, Alyy Khan always did. With songs like “Aaj bhi party, kal bhi party / Saari duniya hai ek party / Ta na na na na / Ta na na na na,” music director Sachin Gupta seems to be trying to re-create the same youthful mood that Sachin-Jigar ushered in with their songs for Faltu earlier this year. But Faltu – despite all its flaws – had an undeniable sense of humour and a significant point to make. Jo Hum Chahein is just one big cliché! If you don’t believe me, hear these lines that Neha utters to a weepy Rohan towards the end of the film, give or take a word here or there: “Hum dono ek doosre ke andhere aakaash ko … roshan kar sakte hai. Let’s be each other’s fireworks.” I did not make that up!!!

Rating (out of five): 1/4 (this quarter star for Simran’s wardrobe in that song, and the no-fuss manner in which Achint Kaur casually takes off her robe to reveal a toned body in a white bikini!) 

source:http://hindifilmnews.com

Ladies VS Ricky Bahl Movie Review

A Yash Raj film is interminably special for a movie enthusiast. Right from good looking stars styled most gorgeously, a fine plot, harmonious/foot tapping music, visually dazzling locales, loads of entertainment… it has it all, packaged well to cater to the desi sensibilities. The expectations, therefore, soar upwards when the triumphant team of BAND BAAJA BAARAAT bracket together for an altogether new motion picture -- LADIES VS RICKY BAHL. The query uppermost on everyone's minds is, will this prized team dish up a far superior and an enhanced entertainer for its patrons this time as well?

BAND BAAJA BAARAAT was an underdog with zilch expectations attached to it. It was the dark horse of 2010. But this time, there is hope, anticipation and of course, humungous expectations.

Okay, so before we begin to 'dissect' LADIES VS RICKY BAHL, let's clear a few misconceptions. The rumor goes that LADIES VS RICKY BAHL seeks inspiration from JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE [2006; Jesse Metcalfe]. Incidentally, the same was said about Yash Raj's youth-centric banner, Y-Films' first venture LUV KA THE END. There's talk that LADIES VS RICKY BAHL also borrows from another movie, SPREAD [2009; Ashton Kutcher] and also from Jeffrey Archer's novel 'Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less'. In the existing circumstances, making a bare-faced rip off would be blasphemous [read copyright issues]. However, I'd like to add, LADIES VS RICKY BAHL takes the same route as Yash Raj's earlier success BUNTY AUR BABLI. Actually, there's no commonality between BUNTY AUR BABLI and LADIES VS RICKY BAHL, except that both have the con angle as the wallpaper. But comparisons apart, it's a novel, contemporary tale [story: Aditya Chopra].

Dimple [Parineeti Chopra], a brash Delhi girl falls in love with Sunny, a fitness trainer. Raina [Dipannita Sharma], an independent and successful corporate woman in Mumbai, does business with an art dealer Deven. Saira [Aditi Sharma], a hard working widow in Lucknow, makes a new friend, the shy Iqbal. Three different girls who get taken for a ride by three different men.

The problem is, it is actually one man -- Ricky Bahl [Ranveer Singh], a suave and charming con-man, who revels in the game and is only chasing money.

A chance encounter brings these three women together, who vow to track down Ricky Bahl and get their money back. The next step is the actual plan. Enter Ishika [Anushka Sharma], a young and ambitious girl. The game is set in Goa…

If the promos give an indication that it's just another con flick or an extension of BAND BAAJA BAARAAT, you're in for a bolt from the blue. It's not! What's common is that LADIES VS RICKY BAHL also has ingeniously written characters and some truly engaging moments. While the first story [involving Parineeti] stands out, the second story [Dipannita] is strictly okay, while the third [Aditi] is not as convincing.

LADIES VS RICKY BAHL is a film of today and the women here are not abla naaris who will sit back and weep, but seek vengeance or at least get even with the offender. However, the screenplay [Devika Bhagat] isn't able to tap the potential that the plot provides. That's because the ploys that Anushka and her gang of girls employ to get even with Ranveer come across as preposterous and outlandish at times. Because the tricks played by the girls are unreal than sensible, even the youngsters may not really enjoy the drama in its entirety. Also, the film dips in the post-interval portions and tends to get sluggish as well. Fortunately, the director ensures that the film gets back on track and rounds off with a pounding culmination.

Director Maneesh Sharma has handled a number of sequences expertly. The start [the Delhi episode] is most enjoyable and the concluding portions are equally captivating. It's the in between that vacillates between ordinary and absorbing. Coming from Maneesh Sharma, the director of one of the best films of 2010, one expected a lot more meat from the proceedings. Habib Faisal's dialogue are incredibly witty, with the humor delicately woven in the one-liners. Music composers Salim-Sulaiman and lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya join hands to create high-octane, full-of-energy tracks. 'Aadat Se Majboor' and 'Jazba' are vibrant, while 'Thug Le', during the end credits, stands out for its choreography. Aseem Mishra's cinematography is top notch.

LADIES VS RICKY BAHL projects Anushka in immaculate light, bestowing her the opportunity to ascertain yet another facet of her persona, which was hitherto unidentified by spectators. Exuding solid screen presence, Anushka wows you with her natural elucidation of the character. Ranveer is the scene stealer here. He's charismatic, spontaneous and glides into his character with amazing ease. He, most definitely, has the aptitude to go places if he chooses the right films and makes the accurate career moves.

Parineeti Chopra springs a pleasant surprise. She has wonderful screen presence and acts freely. In fact, the viewers would take to her character instantly. Dipannita Sharma carries off her part with poise and grace, while Aditi Sharma is subdued, but natural to the core. The actor enacting the role of Parineeti's father is first-rate.

On the whole, LADIES VS RICKY BAHL is, at best, a decent fare, which appeals in parts. The film starts well, even ends well. It's the in between that's plain ordinary. One definitely expected more from the director of the immensely likeable BAND BAAJA BAARAAT. Ideally, the film merits a two-and-a-half star rating, but that extra half star is for Ranveer and Anushka, who steal your heart with truly striking performances. 

Source:bollywoodhungama

Panjaa – Review byfreemangoes.com