Bhaago Milkha Ko Dekhne Bhaago !!!

There are movies which entertain you, there are movies which educate you, there are movies which intrigue you and then there are movies which Inspire you ! Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is exactly what I am talking about.

First of all apologies for my absence and no reviews for Lootera or Policegiri was stuck up with some other commitments and did not get chance to watch both the movies.

Coming back to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, BMB is a movie which gives you that much required goosebumps and the exhilaration required to be created by a biopic of a National Hero. BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG chronicles the life of Indian sprinter Milkha Singh from his childhood to achieving the iconic standing. The film takes you back in time when Milkha lost his family members during the partition and his rise to the celebrated status without any prescribed guidance or monetary backing. The film also encapsulates his attachment to his sister [Divya Dutta] and the woman he gave his heart to [Sonam Kapoor]. Also depicted in this 3-hour+ film are the conquests, the lows, the rise to splendor and distinction, the skilful attainment.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has always been a very crafty director, right from AKS, Rang De Basanti & Dilli 6 have a mark of his own and this time with BMB he continues his legacy. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra does a brilliant job in handling the movie and keeping it interesting till the end. The Balance of the stories may it be between Milkha & his first love Nirmal, Milkha & Stella (Australian Girl) Milkha & his Coach & Seniors & most importantly Milkha & his Sister Isri. Good Job !

Now, What do I say about Farhan Akhtar ! I don’t know what is it that he cannot do ?? Just like Milkha Singh was named “The Flying Sikh” Farhan Akhtar should be named SuperAkhtar. First he proved he can direct (Dil Chahta Hai) then he proved he can produce without doing anything else (Talaash), He can sing (Rock On), he can dance & write lyrics (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara) and then went ahead and crossed all the limits by doing Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag ! What a transition, amazing ! Even if you think about the hard work and training he might have gone through to portray the tough & physically demanding role of Milkha Singh its par excellence and at least a National Award contender. Anything said for Farhan Akhtar will be like showing a lamp to the Sun ! HATS OFF !

Sonam Kapoor unfortunately does not have much to do except a brief role of maximum 5 minutes screen presence and two songs. Especially seeing her a few weeks back in Raanjhnaa and now seeing her doing almost like a cameo is a little disappointing. But one thing is for sure slowly but steadily shes getting a foot firm in  the industry.

Divya Dutta has done such kind of roles before and has always been appreciated, this time too she does no mistake in playing a doting sister of Milkha Singh who is ready to sacrifice anything for him. The chemistry of a loving younger brother  and motherly elder sister is  a very special part in the movie.

Pawan Malhotra as Gurudev Singh his Junior coach, Yograj Singh as Indian Coach Ranveer Singh, Prakash Raj as Major are all instrumental characters in building the story and have all played their parts brilliantly.

The cinematography (Binod Pradhan) and the picturisation is excellent and gives you a feel of a very technically sound film, the dialogues(Prasoon Joshi) are good but could have been better, in a movie like this it is expected to hear some really motivating dialogues that live with you for a long time and may be some live for a lifetime, but somehow they fall short of expectation. The Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is good and builds up the story of the movie Mera Yaar, Hawan Karenge, Zinda Hai To, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag are all good songs and can be pleasurably heard.

On the whole if India has to send an Oscar nomination this year it has to be Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. BMB is a complete film, you cannot call it a masala entertainer but it still has all the ingredients required for you to leave the theatre satisfied. The only drawback of the movie is the length of the movie and secondly the multiple romantic tracks of Milkha Singh. If you havent watched it, do it and I am sure you will be glad you saw some quality cinemas

My Rating 4/5 (-1/2 for length (3hrs 8 mins) & -1/2 for love stories accompanied with useless songs)

 

 

 

If its Not Crazy Its Not Love !

Till now only South Indian (Tamil, Telugu & Malayalam) movies were remade and appreciated, its high time we start appreciating their acting talent as well. Dhanush makes a grand entry in “Bollywood” with Raanjhanaa and proves his point and caliber as a good actor. Besides Dhanush is the reason a normal layman with a not so very good looks can dream of becoming an actor. No doubt that Raanjhanaa completely belongs to Dhanush.

RAANJHANAA narrates the story of Kundan [Dhanush], who falls in love with Zoya [Sonam Kapoor] the moment he sets his eyes on her. The story takes a turn when Zoya goes to Delhi for further education. There, she falls in love with a budding politician [Abhay Deol]. But there are complications in this love triangle…

Raanjhanaa is a emotion film, not literally though but has all the emotions in right quantity, love between Kundan & Zoya, Friendship between Murari & Kundan, Devotion of Bindiya towards Kundan and Humane relation between Jasjeet & Kundan so what’s common between all ?? KUNDAN !

Dhanush effortlessly plays his role as Kundan a happy go lucky boy of allahabad who falls in love at first sight with a Muslim Girl Zoya (Sonam) the style, the attitude, the body language and the flavor of a UP ka Bhaiya carried of effortlessly by Dhanush is a commendable job considering the fact that he is a hardcore Tamil star but does complete justice to his character apart a few words mispronounced here and there (lets call it first time error). Dhanush is the heart of the movie and you cannot stop yourself from falling in love with Kundan’s character.

Sonam Kapoor this plays a role which proves her acting skills unlike her previous movies where shes just used for glamour quotient.  Zoya’s character is very aptly played as a bubbly fun loving girl with no wrong thinking. In the second half Sonam gets to explore the seriousness of Zoya and her intense performance is very good if not perfect. Her Simple beauty is her USP and thats what is required for a small town girl to look like.

Abhay Deol cannot be called a lead character but its more of an extended cameo of a fearless college politician and a wannabe minister with a good cause. He gets to do something what Ajay Devgan & Vivek Oberoi had done in Yuva, the only problem is that Abhay is too soft and polite to be a politician. But his character is very well crafted where he hangs around with police who is there to imprison him and also after a Lathi charge shakes hands with Police officers who were doing the lathi charge.

The supporting cast is unblemished and each of them pitches in a superior performance. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is a talent to watch out for. He’s remarkable as Dhanush’s friend Murari. Swara Bhaskar the outspoken and fighter cock madly and crazily in love with Kundan is equally fab in a role that offers her plenty of scope to display histrionics. Kumud Mishra is first-rate. Vipin Sharma is adequate. Sujata Kumar is first-rate as the scheming politician.

The sole hiccup is that the film deviates in the middle of the second hour, when politics takes precedence, while romance takes a backseat. That’s when you start feeling fidgety. But these portions are vital to the plot as it leads to an explosive climax, which comes across as a shocker. In fact, the sequences before the wrap up are the highpoint of the movie and you can’t help but applaud the writer as well as the director for thinking out of the box.

Having said everything how can one forget the Music of A. R. Rahman ? Raanjhanaa’s music is very situational and will grow on to you as you keep on to listening to the songs, special mention to the title track which stays with you before, while and after the movie. Banarasiya is a soulful song, Tu Man Shudhi is also heart warming. Excellent location in the heart of Banaras, on the outskirts of Delhi and interiors of Punjab are breathtaking. Full marks to Anand Rai for giving us such a beautiful movie which will satisfy both the class and the mass and also provide full justification to the critics

On the whole Raanjhanaa is a untold story presented in a very different way, the acting performances are par excellence and hold on the audience. Good music great dialogues & a superb screenplay are the plus point of the movie. If you want to see a movie that is different and interesting Go See RAANJHANAA !

My Rating 3 1/2 out of 5 (-1 for slow pace post interval  and before the climax -1/2 for very quick & unbuilt climax)