shaheen raaj

Hindi Film Review

Mission Mangal

By: Shaheen Raaj

“Mission Mangal Is Engaging, Entertaining & Even Patriotic”

Banner: Cape Of Good Films, Hope Productions & Fox Star Studios

Producer: Aruna Bhatia & Anil Naidu

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi sinha, Tapsee Pannu, Nitya Menon, Sharman Joshi, Kirti Kulhaari, H G Dattatreya, Sanjay Kapoor, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Dalip Tahil, Vikram Gokhale, Mohan Kapoor & Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub

Music: Amit Trivedi

Just like how Ramzan Eid is synonymous with a Salman Khan release, the Independence Day holiday isn’t complete without an Akshay Kumar starrer. From the year 2013 to the rear 2018, he has had a release during this beneficial weekend, barring the year of 2014. So even the ongoing year of 2019 is no exception & this time, he is out with a new titled Mission Mangal, based on an important chapter of India’s history. The mood of the film is also apt, considering that just last month, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Chandrayaan 2 towards the moon. Mission Mangal has all the trappings of a blockbuster.So the scripted scenario of Mission Mangal reveals the incredible true story behind India’s mission to Mars. The film begins in the year 2010. At the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a space mission under Rakesh Dhawan (Akshay Kumar) fails after Tara Shinde (Vidya Balan) in his team makes an error in judgement. As a punishment posting, he’s asked to handle India’s Mars program, which is not expected to take off anytime soon. A few days later, Tara Shinde while cooking puris in her home Tara Shinde has a Eureka moment. She realizes that through innovative methods, they can try to get our satellite reach Mars in just 2 years. She tells Rakesh Dhawan about the plan & he realizes that it’s a golden opportunity. Rakesh Dhawan now approaches his senior (Vikram Gokhale) for approval who finds the idea unfeasible. Also Rupert Desai (Dalip Tahil) who has come from NASA to join the organization named Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) feels that Rakesh Dhawan’s idea is ridiculous. But Rakesh Dhawan however manages to persuade everyone & begins work. He asks for the best of the men from Indian Space Organization (ISRO) for this project. However he’s given inexperienced colleagues like Kritika Aggarwal (Taapsee Pannu), Eka Gandhi (Sonakshi Sinha), Varsha Gowda (Nithya Menen), Neha Siddiqui (Kirti Kulhari) & even Parmeshwar Naidu (Sharman Joshi) & a very senior employee Ananth Iyer (H G Dattatreya). What happens next forms the rest of the crux of the film.

Jagan Shakti’s story is superb & also very challenging. It’s not easy to pen down a mainstream film with such a plot. Also many are not aware of what transpired behind the making of India’s Mars mission. Hence it’ll be exciting for them to witness the whole journey. Also there are so many twists & turns in the plot that one might not believe that some of the plot points are actually true incidents. R Balki, Jagan Shakti, Nidhi Singh Dharma & Saketh Kondipathi’s screenplay not only simplifies the proceedings but also makes it massy. The screenplay blends science & entertainment seamlessly. The film’s goings on are extremely easy to comprehend. R Balki, Jagan Shakti, Nidhi Singh Dharma & Saketh Kondipathi’s dialogues are effective & funny too.

Jagan Shakti’s direction is terrific for a 1^st ever timer. He had a winning screenplay in his hand & he takes it to another level with his directional execution. The film also has subplots of each of the main characters & even these are very well woven in the narrative. And through these tracks too, the makers have made some important comments about religion, parenting, marriage, religious bias et al & all these contribute to the film hugely.

Mission Mangal starts off beautifully showing Tara Shinde running a house efficiently on the day Indian Space Research (ISRO) has an important launch. Rakesh Dhawan’s entry & the confrontation scene when he’s offered Mars program is intriguing as well as entertaining. It also makes it clear that the film won’t get serious & that the entertainment quotient will be maintained. The rest of the team is introduced in a quick but interesting montage like sequences & it adds a lot to the film. The 1^st ever half moves swiftly with no complaints. The 2^nd half is longer & the commencing portions are where the film drops. Also to see the team renovating their work station at a time when they are running against time is a bit too much. Thankfully the film soon picks up. The best is obviously reserved for the grand finale. There are a lot of obstacles faced by the team here & it makes the film even more gripping. So the grand finale is applause worthy.

Amit Trivedi’s music is well interspersed with the proceedings. “Dil Mein Mars Hai’ is entertaining & catchy. “Shaabaashiyaan”is played at a crucial juncture. Amit Trivedi’s background score is engaging.

S Ravi Varman’s cinematography is quite simple & has the big screen effect. Sandeep Ravade’s production design is praiseworthy as it’s straight out of life. Debashish Mishra’s sound design is also as real as it gets. Sham Kaushal’s action is good in the lone action scene inside the metro. Famulus Media & Entertainment’s VFX is top class without which the long climax would not have worked so well. Theia Tekchandaney’s costumes are appealing yet not too glamorous. Kirti Kolwankar & Maria Tharakan’s costumes for Vidya Balan are authentic. Chandan Arora’s editing is just perfect as the film neither moves too fast nor drags.

Mission Mangal is embellished with some fine performances. So performance wise the main actor Akshay Kumar is in top form. He gets to play such a splendid role & also gets into the skin of his character. And he’s very much there throughout the film! The way his character rarely gets serious & makes even serious discussions light & funny too, is seen to be believed. One of the greatest sequences of the film is when he makes an imaginary call to none other than the great man APJ Abdul Kalam. Vidya Balan dominates most of the 1^st ever half & suits her character to the T. It’s also admirable that she has no qualms playing mother to teenagers. Sonakshi Sinha is lovely & gets to shine. It’s great to see how she makes an impact in a supporting role. Taapsee Pannu is also quite efficient & gives off her best in the climax scene. Nithya Menen has a smaller role but it serves as a great debut. Kirti Kulhari manages to score & many would be able to relate to her character’s struggles. Sharman Joshi is funny & would surely make viewers smile. H G Dattatreya is adorable & the scene where he teaches Kirti Kulhari’s ex-hubby a lesson is too good! Dalip Tahil is appropriate as the pessimist guy. Sanjay Kapoor as Sunil Shinde is the main surprise of the film. He delivers a fine performance & post interval he goes in another mode that would be greeted with whistles in cinemas! Purab Kohli as Vivek & Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Rishi lend able support. Rohan Joshi as Dilip Shinde is hilarious & even heartening as Vidya Balan’s son. Kashmira Pardeshi as Anya Shinde gets no scope. Vikram Gokhale is decent. Others are also good in their respective parts.

Tail Piece: On the whole, Mission Mangal is engaging & entertaining while being patriotic in its feel.

At the box office turnstiles, it will be accepted whole heartedly by the audiences & even has the potential to emerge as Akshay Kumar’s highest money spinner ever!

An MLA alleged Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, and Vicky Kaushal — were flaunting a ‘drugged look’ in the video.

MUMBAI:  Filmmaker Karan Johar has finally broken his silence over allegations of hosting a drug party for a few A-list Bollywood stars last month.

In a recent interview, Karan is furious with the brouhaha around the alleged ‘drug party’, and says all such charges are “baseless and ridiculous”. 

It was an “easy night out”, the filmmaker says, adding that his mother was also appalled reading about it. 

“I toyed with the idea of giving out a statement. I toyed with giving out thoughts on social media about something… There were achieving members of the industry who were having an easy night out after a hard week of work, having a good time. I took that video with all the earnestness… would I be putting out that video if there was anything happening at all, I am not stupid,” he said in an interview with Rajeev Masand. ADVERTISING

Last month, Karan had posted a video on Instagram of a party he hosted at home. Soon afterwards, Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa shared the video, alleging that top stars who were present at the party — such as Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, and Vicky Kaushal — were flaunting a “drugged look” in the video. He tagged the video with #UdtaBollywood, taking off on the film “Udta Punjab”, which was about the drug menace in the state of Punjab and which, incidentally, starred Shahid. 

Karan has now opened up on how the reflection of a light near Vicky was misconstrued as proof.

“Apparently you are not allowed to scratch your nose. Apparently, you are not allowed to put your phone in your back pocket. Apparently, a shadow of light is perceived to be some kind of powder,” he said, further revealing that Vicky was recovering from dengue and was drinking hot water with lemon.

“Some of us were chatting and some of us were having wine, but that was it. It was a baseless accusation, and it really annoyed me because you are taking away the culture and tradition that I have been raised in. My mother was appalled when she read those things because she was there. Which powder? We are all very committed professionals,” he said. 

The filmmaker called it a night out where friends were letting their hair down. 

“My mother, five minutes before this video, was sitting with us. It was that kind of a family, happy, social gathering, where friends were sitting and having a good time and we were listening to some music, having some good food and having good conversational energy there. There was nothing else going on,” he said.

“The reason I didn’t put it out was because ‘why do I need to justify a house party which was a casual get together with good friends?’ How dare you grab it away from us? How dare somebody constantly make us soft target? It is ridiculous that someone can start spotting these things,” Karan said. 

He also said that his friends, who were present in the video, also found the accusations ridiculous. 

“I thought if I justify it will start looking that I am speaking too much in defense.”

While he didn’t react to these accusations, he has decided that he will take a legal action next time. 

“I am not taking this very kindly, the next time where baseless accusations, I will take the legal route. You cannot mar our solid reputations, our sincere reputations our committed reputations just because you are presuming something. You cannot put out a baseless accusation that has no base, no fact, no truth, no reality and try and mar us and our reputations, it’s ridiculous.”

The incident, he claimed, has left an impact on his mind. 

“I am, now, afraid to call up people to my home thinking that they might be afraid to show up,” he said. 

Aditya Dhar won the Best Director award for his debut “Uri: The Surgical Strike” while “Andhadhund” also won awards for best Hindi film and best-adapted screenplay.

The national film awards announcements have started coming in with Ayushmann Khurrana winning the best actor award for ‘Badhaai Ho’ along with Vicky Kaushal for ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’. The best actress award was bagged by Keerthy Suresh for ‘Mahanati’, which was announced as the best Telugu film. The best Hindi film award has been bagged by ‘Andhadhun’.

Aditya Dhar won the Best Director award for his debut “Uri: The Surgical Strike” while “Andhadhun” also won awards for best Hindi film and best-adapted screenplay.

“Badhaai Ho”, about a family dealing with a late pregnancy, was adjudged the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment and veteran actor Surekha Sikri bagged the best supporting actress for her role of a cantankerous matriarch.

Akshay Kumar-starrer “Padman” was named the best film on social issues.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmavaat”, which faced a lot of hurdles during its release, walked away with best choreography for ‘Ghoomer’ and the best music director award for Bhansali.

Its song “Binte Dil” landed Arijit Singh the best male playback singer recognition.

Singer-lyricist Swanand Kirkire won the best supporting actor award for Marathi film “Chumbak”. The awards were announced by jury head Rahul Rawail.

The Kannada film ‘KGF – Chapter 1’ starring Yash won the award for best action choreography. 

Here’s the full list: 

FEATURE FILMS:

Actors who get special mention for their performance: Sruthi Hariharan, Chandrachud Rai, Josy Joseph, Savitri

Best Rajasthani Film: Turtle

Best Panchanga Film: In The Land Of Poisonous Women

Best Garo Film: Anna

Best Marathi Film: Bhonga

Best Tamil Film: Baram

Best Hindi Film: Andhadhun

Best Urdu Film: Hamid

Best Bengali Film: Ek Je Chhilo Raja

Best Malayalam Film: Sudani From Nigeria

Best Telugu Film: Mahanati

Best Kannada Film: Nathicharami

Best Konkani Film: Amori

Best Assamese Film: Bulbul Can Sing

Best Punjabi Film: Harjeeta

Best Gujarati Film: Reva

Best Choreography: Kruti Mahesh Midya and Jyothi D Tommaar for Ghoomar, Padmaavat

Best Music Director: Padmaavat

Best Special Effect: Awe, KGF

Best Music Direction: Sanjay Leela Bhasali for Padmaavat

Best Background Music Award: Uri: The Surgical Strike

Best Makeup Artist: Ranjith for Awe

Best Costume Designer: Rajshree Patnaik, Varun Shah and Archana Rao for Mahanati

Best Action: KGF: Chapter 1

Best Lyrics: Nathicharami

Best Production Design: Kammara Sambhavam

Best Editing: Nathicharami

Best Location Sound: Tendlya

Best Sound Design: Uri

Best Mixed Track: Rangasthalam

Best Original Screenplay: Chi La Sow

Best Adapted Screenplay: Andhadhun

Best Dialogue: Tarikh

Best Cinematography: Olu (Malayalam) to MJ Radhakrishnan

Best Female Playback Singer: Bindu Mani for Mayavi Manave from Nathicharami

Best Male Playback Singer: Arijit Singh for Binte Dil from Padmaavat

Best Film on Social Issues: Pad Man

Best Supporting Actress: Surekha Sikri for Badhaai Ho

Best Supporting Actor: Swanand Kirkire for Chumbak

Best Actor: Ayushmann Khurrana, Andhadhun, and Vicky Kaushal, Uri

Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh for Mahanati

Best Direction: Aditya Dhar for Uri

Best Feature Film: Hellaro (Gujarati)

Best Children’s Film: Sarkari. Hi. Pra. Shale Kasaragodu, Koduge

Best Child Actors: PV Rohith for Ondalla Eradalla (Kannada), Sameep Singh for Harjeeta (Punjabi), Talha Arshad Reshi for Hamid (Urdu), Shrinivas Pokale for Naal(Marathi)

Best Film on Environment Conservation: Paani

Nargis Dutt Award for National Integration: Ondalla Eradalla

Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Badhaai Ho

Jury Awards: Kedara (Bengali), Hellaro (Gujarati)

Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of A Director: Sudhakar Reddy Yakanthi for Naal

NON FEATURE FILM CATEGORY

Best Film on Family Values: Chalo Jeetey Hai

Best Short Fiction Film: Kasab

Social Justice Film: Why Me, Ekant

Best Investigation Film: Amoli

Best Sports Film: Swimming Through The Darkness

Best Educational Film: Sarala Virala

Best Film on Social Issue: Talate Kunji

Best Environmental Film: The World’s Most Famous Tiger

Best Promotional Film: Rediscovering Jahannum

Best Film on Science and Technology: GD Naidu: The Edison of India

Best Arts and Cultural Film: Munkar

Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director: Feluda

Best Non-Feature Film: Sunrise, The Secret Life of Frogs

Best book on cinema: Malayalam Book Mano Prarthana Pulley; In A Cult Of Their Own gets Special Mention

Best Film Critic: Blase Johnny (Malayalam), Ananth Vijay (Hindi)

The winners of the prestigious national film awards will be announced by the jury members who have submitted their report to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar with their final recommendations in various categories.

Every year the winners of the awards are announced in April and the presentation ceremony is held on May 3, which is when India’s first feature film is said to have its theatrical release in 1913.

However, in April the ministry announced that the National Film Awards will be declared after the Lok Sabha elections.

The jury has completed its deliberations on the awards and their final recommendations have been submitted, Javadekar told reporters.

“They made a lot of efforts for the last two months. I am very sure that they would have picked the best films, the best directors. They will announce that at the press conference today. This is 66th year of film awards and they have become a prestigious institute,” he said.

Javadekar said the date of presenting the awards has not been fixed yet.

Rishi Kapoor said, “Thankfully, my health started improving week after week, month after month.”

NEW DELHI: 

Rishi Kapoor, battling cancer in New York, told Mumbai Mirror that that the disease was first detected when he was filming in New Delhi last year and how things have changed for him drastically after leaving for the treatment nine months ago. The 66-year-old actor said that after starting the treatment he lost 26 kilos as he ‘had no appetite for the first four months.’ The actor also added that he is still under treatment and he has regained seven-eight kilos. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Rishi Kapoor said, “The problem was detected when I was shooting in Delhi and was required to dye my hair white. I was told to immediately rush to the Sloan Kettering Hospital. Thankfully, my health started improving week after week, month after month… I had lost 26 kg as I had no appetite for the first four months. Now, I’ve gained seven-eight kg. I don’t want to look too lean, but I haven’t gone back to my original self either. Thank God for that.”

He elaborated, “I am perfect now. The cancer is in remission, but I am still under treatment. The problem is not the treatment but the reaction time. There is a six-week gap between one treatment and the next when all you can do is eat, shop, watch movies, live a normal life which I would rather do at home than here in New York.”

Rishi Kapoor is feeling homesick and says that he hopes to return by the end of August. The Rajma Chawal actor said, “It’s been nine months and 16 days – I know since I have been counting the days – that I have been away. I really miss home. I have to be here for 11 months, so I will not be back before the end of August. I am waiting to come back and raring to get going. I am hoping that I can plan an end-August return but all this talk that I will be back in early September for my birthday, is again nothing but speculation.”

He thanked his wife Neetu Kapoor for supporting him through and through and said, “It’s been a difficult time, very taxing, but Neetu (wife), and my children (Ranbir and Riddhima) have been very supportive. I am grateful to everyone.

Rishi Kapoor will be next seen in Jhootha Kahin Ka, which he filmed before leaving for the US. The actor also said that he has committed to a project, which he will resume after returning to India.

By: Shaheen Raaj

“Super 30 Is Inspirational But Too Preachy To Be True”

Banner: Phantom Films, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment & HRX Films

Producers: Phantom Films, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment & Reliance Entertainment

Director: Vikas Bahl

Star Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Mrunal Thakur, Ali Haji,  Amit Sadh, Rahul Raj, Nandish Singh, Manav Gohil, Virendra Saxsena, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Shrivastava, Rajesh Sharma, Ghanhyam Kumar, Vijay Varma, Deepali Gautam & Karishma Sharma  

Music: Ajay – Atul

Overpopulation is one of the biggest ills plaguing the country. The number of people in this country vis à vis the education institutes available are fairly disproportionate. As a result, lakhs of students every year have to struggle & study hard in order to get a few 1000 seats in elite educational institutes. The problem gets compounded when students belong to low income groups & hence, their access to fine tutoring at affordable prices is even lesser. Anand Kumar from Bihar came as a Godsend for many such aspirants. He gave free coaching to students & guaranteed them a seat in IIT. This feat made him a household name & now Hrithik Roshan reprises this role in Super 30. The film has faced lots of obstacles & also few delays.

The scripted scenario of Super 30 reveals that it is the story of a selfless man fighting for the cause of education for all. The year is 1996. Anand Kumar (Hrithik Roshan) has completed his graduation & is passionate about mathematics. He’s so good in the subject that he is felicitated at the hands of the education minister (Pankaj Tripathi). Anand manages to solve a complex mathematical problem, which has baffled scholars all around the world. His feat lands him a seat in the prestigious Cambridge University. His father Eshwar Kumar (Virendra Saxena) is a postman who takes out his Provident Fund to fund Anand’s foreign education. When the money falls short, he & Anand knock at the doors of the education minister, who had promised him help. But the minister refuses to help. Meanwhile, Eshwar passes away one day suddenly. He was the only earning member of the family & hence, Anand sheds his ambition & begins selling papad to survive. One day, he bumps into Lallan Singh (Aditya Srivastava) who runs Excellence Coaching Centre, an institute for those giving the IIT – JEE exams. He is aware of Anand’s brilliance in mathematics since he was in the college when Anand was felicitated. He gets Anand enrolled in his coaching institute as a premium teacher. Since Anand’s teaching methods guarantee success, he becomes quite sought after. Excellence Coaching Centre management even promote themselves by using Anand’s picture on their banners. Anand’s financial condition also improves as he’s even made one of the signatories. However, he soon realizes that some brilliant students aren’t getting a fair chance to excel in life because of their underprivileged background. Overnight, Anand quits Excellence Coaching Centre. He starts his own centre, where he decides to teach 30 students for IIT entrance exams for free. Not just that, he even arranges for their accommodation & food. Lallan Singh obviously is livid & he tries his best to persuade Anand. When nothing works, he tries to demotivate Anand, saying that all his students who fail will go back to their impoverished lives. It’s important that each & every student of Anand manages to crack the IIT exam.

Sanjeev Dutta’s story is decent & has the potential. However, the incidents shown in the film seem too unreal at places. The makers claim it’s based on a true story but some of the episodes of the 2^nd half seem fictional. Sanjeev Dutta’s screenplay is watertight in the 1^stever half. There’s too much happening but it’s all written down well. The writing in the 2^ndhalf is a bit shaky. Also, the writing seems quite out dated. The good vs bad battle is something one has witnessed in countless number of films before. Many of the scenes of the baddies are typical of the 90’s films especially the manner in which they are plotting to strike against the hero. Sanjeev Dutta’s dialogues are acidic & make the right impact.

Vikas Bahl’s direction is average & could have been better. In the 1^st ever half, he manages to handle everything well but cracks begin to develop in the 2^nd half & it shows. There are several loose ends; for instance, what angered Lallan Singh & the minister so much about the Super 30 programme that they even get ready to eliminate Anand? The funny part is that Vikas Bahl hints a bit on the entire education scam. But for a better impact, he should have delved a little bit more on the topic. In the absence of the detailing, it looks quite superficial. 2ndly, some characters appear all of a sudden. There’s a way of introducing important characters. In Super 30, Raghunath (Amit Sadh) & Purshottam (Manav Gohil) suddenly spring out of nowhere & it takes a while to understand who they are & what their relevance to the plot is. Similarly, some major characters vanish without a trace as well, towards the climax. The biggest goof up by director Vikas Bahl however is in the Holi sequence. It falls completely flat. It also gives one a déjà vu of Vikas Bahl’s earlier film, Shaandaar in the year 2015. Even the hospital scene in the end seems too out stretched.

Super 30 has an interesting start, depicting Fugga (Vijay Varma) as a kind of narrator who tells the story of Anand to an audience in London. The focus soon shifts to Patna & the beginning portions are not very well directed. But they keep one glued to the screen. A lot happens in the 1^st ever half, from Anand getting selected for Cambridge to the struggle faced to get funds to his father’s demise to becoming rich & famous after being employed at the coaching institute to starting his own centre. Hence, there’s never a dull moment in the 75 minute long 1^st ever half. The 2^nd half begins well & the sequence of the competition between Excellence students & Anand’s students is impressive. But then things go downhill, in the Holi sequence. It’s bizarre to say the least & the intended message just doesn’t come across. The climax too might seem filmy for a section of the audiences. But it is thrilling & also moving due to which the overall impact is not affected much. The final scene is quite uplifting & is an apt way to end the film.

Ajay – Atul’s music is not of the chartbuster variety & one wishes the film had one chartbuster, theme like song. “Jugraafiya” is the best of the lot. “Paisa”is situational. “Question Mark”seems like a good idea on paper but execution is weak. “Niyam Ho”is played at a crucial juncture. “Basanti No Dance”is horrible. Ajay – Atul’s background score is a bit loud but correctly makes the right impact.

Anay Goswamy’s cinematography is appropriate. Allan Amin’s action is realistic & is not over the top. Amit Ray & Subrata Chakraborty’s production design is quite real. Subodh Srivastava & Niharika Bhasin Khan’s costumes are straight out of life. None of the characters look glamorous by any angle. Vikram Gaikwad’s make – up is praiseworthy, especially in the case of Hrithik. Mukesh Chhabra’s casting deserves applause, in the case of the casting of the students particularly. Sreekar Prasad’s editing is disjointed & from an editor of such a caliber, a better job was expected.

Performance wise Super 30 belongs to Hrithik Roshan, no 2 doubts on that! He’s the soul of the film & the reason why one looks forward to the proceedings despite issues in the 2^ndhalf. He’s completely convincing as a Bihari & his accent, clothes, make-up, body language et al are spot on. He proves yet again why he’s one of the most accomplished superstars at present! Mrunal Thakur as Rashmi suits the part & delivers a decent performance. It’s a very small role but has a relevance to the story. Aditya Srivastava is quite good in the villainous role. Pankaj Tripathi is gimmicky. In some scenes, it works but in a few places, it doesn’t come across as intended. Virendra Saxena is adorable & his character is sure to win the audiences hearts. Nandish Singh as Pranav Kumar is fine as Anand’s brother. Amit Sadh as Raghunath is too good & has a badass look which suits him. Sadly, he’s hardly there & this is one character you wish had more screen time. Vijay Varma is entertaining in the intro scene but later on his character’s significance will be questioned by the viewers. Rajesh Sharma is wasted & one wonders why his character is even there in the film. Manav Gohil is natural. Karishma Sharma is sizzling in the item song. As for the students, all have done a superb job but the ones who leave an impact are Ghanshyam Kumar as the little Fugga, Deepali Gautam as Kusum & Rahul Raj as Kishore. Ali Haji is quit entertaining.

Tail Piece: On the whole, Super 30 has a fine 1^st ever half but goes totally downhill in the 2^nd hour. Yet, the impact is made due to the high emotional quotient & also thanks to Hrithik Roshan’s superlative performance.

At the box office, it will require a good word of mouth publicity to rein in the right & adequate footfalls.

Bollywood Buzz

By: Shaheen Raaj

Ekta Jain To Be Part Of Comedy Horror Film Khalli Balli

Ekta Jain will now be a part of a comedy horror film titled Khalli Balli to be directed by Manoj Sharma.

The well-known Gujarati actress named Ekta jain who has done loads of small screen serials, a few Hindi films, some theater plays in Hindi, Hinglish & Sanskrit too will now be seen in a comedy horror Hindi film named Khalli Balli to be produced by Kamal Kishor Mishra of One Entertainment Film Productions & Prachi movies. The film is written & directed by Manoj Sharma. The film will be shot in Mumbai & Lucknow . Dharmendra, Madhoo Shah, Rajniesh Duggal, Kainaat Arora, Rohan Mehra, Vijay Raaj, Rajpal Yadav, Hemant Pandey, Yasmeen Khan, Asrani & above all Ekta Jain are in the cast of the film. 

Hindi Film Review

Article 15

“Article 15 Is A Hard-Hitting Film”

Banner: Benares Media Works & Zee Studios

Producers: Anubhav Sinha & Zee Studios

Director: Anubhav Sinha

Star Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Isha Talwar, Sayani Gupta, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Nassar, Ronjini Chakraborty, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Veen, Ashish Verma, Sushil Pandey, Akash Dabhade, Shubrajyoti Bharat & Sumbul Touqeer

Music: Anurag Saikia, Piyush Shankar, Devin Parker, Gingger & Mangesh Dhakde

One of the burning issues of the country is the caste system. Despite relevant laws & provisions, one can’t deny that the discrimination of various communities continue with alarming regularity. At times, it manifests into shocking crimes. The political class takes advantage of these conflicts & it further creates a divide. Very few films in Bollywood have plots that actually revolves around caste, shockingly. Anubhav Sinha however takes up the challenge, motivated by the success of his last year’s flick Mulk,  which dealt with religious tensions. The result is Article 15, featuring the urban audience’s favorite star Ayushmann Khurrana in the leading role. The trailer & the content has already become a talking point.

The scripted scenario of Article 15 reveals that it is story of a righteous cop trying to solve a caste related crime. Ayan Ranjan (Ayushmann Khurrana) is an IPS officer from Delhi who has been transferred to a village named Lalgaon in Uttar Pradesh as punishment posting. As soon as he joins duty, he comes to know about a case involving the 3 missing girls from the Dalit community in the village. The cops out there don’t investigate the matter, citing that the case isn’t serious & the community often files false complaints. The next day however, the corpse of 2 of the missing girls namely Shalu & Mamta is found hanging on a tree. The 3^rdgirl, Pooja, is missing. One of the girls from the community, Gaura (Sayani Gupta) tells Ayan Ranjan that these 3 girls used to work under the local contractor Anshu who used to pay them Rs. 25 per day. The girls then asked for a raise of just Rs. 3 but it was rejected by Anshu. Hence, they protested & left the work. Gaura alleges that Anshu possibly violated the girls to teach them a lesson. Ayan Ranjan then decides to investigate the matter as he realizes that Gaura is indeed right. But officer Brahmdutt Singh (Manoj Pahwa), working under Ayan Ranjan, secretly tries to change the narrative of the crime. He plants a story in a newspaper that both the girls were in a same-sex relationship & that’s why their fathers killed them. In short, it was not a caste related crime but honor killing is what he tries to prove. He also forces Dr. Malti Ram (Ronjini Chakraborty) to change the post mortem report, although it’s clear that Shalu & Mamta had been repeatedly gang raped & then hung on the tree. Amidst all these challenges, Ayan Ranjan attempts to solve the case & find Pooja. To top it all, a Dalit underground leader Nishant (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) attacks police officer Jatav (Kumud Mishra) & Ayan Ranjan’s PA Mayank (Ashish Verma) & sets their jeep on fire. What happens next forms the rest of the crux of the film.

Anubhav Sinha & Gaurav Solanki’s story is very hard-hitting & deserves to be told. It is loosely inspired by events like the Badaun rape case & Una flogging incident. The various characters, their dilemmas & of course their caste status is well put out & used. However, one also wishes the film didn’t have so many people as it becomes confusing. Also, not all contribute entirely to the main plot. Anubhav Sinha & Gaurav Solanki’s screenplay is engaging & keeps one hooked from start to finish. There’s so much happening every minute & the writers try their best to keep audiences captivated. A few scenes however should have been written in a more entertaining way. Anubhav Sinha & Gaurav Solanki’s dialogues are one of the pillars of the film. They take several scenes to another level. And the writers don’t take a safe route. The names of various castes are fearlessly mentioned & thankfully, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) hasn’t chopped off these references either. It’s a pleasant surprise that even the F-word has been retained. In 1 sequence, the characters even discuss about the symbols of the political parties & it’s easy to understand what they are hinting at.

Anubhav Sinha’s direction is 1^st rate for most parts. It’s a very sensitive topic, which is why most filmmakers have feared taking it up. Anubhav Sinha only makes a film out of it, he does a fine job & also ensures the various communities don’t get offended. But one wishes he had made Article 15 in a more commercial way. His earlier film Mulk was easy to comprehend & also had a thrill element & that made it more mainstream. Article 15 is entertaining & massy only in parts. In a few scenes, it seems like a docu drama. A few moments however are very memorable & keep lingering in one’s mind for a long time. The shots where sewer cleaners enter the gutters without any safety equipment is bound to haunt viewers. Another brief but powerful shot is how political workers put up the banner of the upcoming rally on the very wall where posters of missing Pooja are pasted. It’s quite an interesting way to subtly tell viewers about how society has got the priorities all wrong.

Article 15’s initial scene is quite a shocker but then the interest levels drop. The 1^st ever 10 to 15 minutes are spent in introducing the characters & the setting. It’s when the dead bodies are found that the film rises again. The complexities are laid out very well & one begins to see with interest how Ayan Ranjan wades through these challenges & attempts to bring justice. One of the most memorable sequences of this hour & also the film is when Ayan Ranjan gets outraged after knowing the caste status of fellow cops & how there are plenty of hierarchies. The intermission point takes the cake as the finest scene of the film & will surely be greeted with claps in cinema halls. It also excites audiences as they expect the 2^nd half to be even better. In the 2^nd hour however, the film gets quite complicated. The subplots of Nishant & the Mahant ji are interesting & even realistic but don’t gel well with the main plot. On the positive side, the twist in the tale is unpredictable. The scenes of Nihal Singh & his sister give goosebumps. Also, the sequence of Ayan Ranjan being interrogated by the CBI is arresting. The climax is quite impressive & the film ends on a fantastic note.

Music has no scope in the film & it’s not relegated even in the background. “Kahab Toh” is played in the opening credits & its lyrics are quite sharp. “Shuru Karein Kya” is played during the end credits & though it is catchy, this rap track looks out of place considering the theme of the film. Mangesh Dhakde’s background score is not consistent but the exhilarating music elevates impact. Ewan Mulligan’s cinematography is quite raw & suits a film of this genre. Nikhil Kovale’s production design is realistic. Overall, the look of the film is quite rich & even a bit haunting & it works. Vishakha Kullarwar’s costumes are straight out of life, especially the ones worn by the marginalized communities. Yasha Ramchandani’s editing is appropriate.

Performance wise Ayushmann Khurrana is in top form. He’s mostly known for quirky roles but last year, he surprised everyone by excelling in the thriller Andhadhun. In Article 15 however, he goes one step ahead as there’s no scope for comedy at all here. Yet, he comes out with flying colours. Even with his silences & eye movements, he conveys so much. Article 15 has created a buzz also because he’s there in the film & he ensures he doesn’t disappoint his fans & admirers. Manoj Pahwa leaves a huge mark. Anubhav Sinha extracts the best from him, last year he rocked in Mulk, and now with this flick, he yet again impresses. Watch out for the scenes when he charges towards Jatav & in the 2^nd half when he confronts Jatav. Kumud Mishra is the surprise of the film. His role is very well fleshed out & with his performance, he takes it on a high. He gets to be in a clapworthy sequence in the 2^nd half. He also contributes to the comic quotient in the movie. Sayani Gupta is efficient. She arguably did a similar role in Jolly LLB 2 (2017) where also she was begging the powerful people for justice. But here, the setting is different & she tries her best to ensure her performance doesn’t remind one of any previous performance. Her breakdown scene is chilling. Isha Talwar (Aditi) is decent & her chemistry with Ayushmann Khurrana is quite fresh. Aakash Dabhade as Satyendra Rai has a crucial part & is well cast. Mohamed Zeeshan Ayyub gives a powerful performance & even suits his character. It’s a well written part but one wishes his later portions had more impact to the overall plot. Ronjini Chakraborty is quite confident. Nassar as CBI official is apt. The actors playing Anshu, Amla the maid, Nihal Singh & Mahant are also fine.

Tail Piece: On the whole, Article 15 is a hard-hitting film that raises some important issues related to caste, that are plaguing the country.

At the box office turnstiles, the powerful plot & the brand Ayushmann Khurrana will ensure that it gets a decent footfalls in the multiplexes.

Zaira Wasim announced she’s quit Bollywood saying the workings of the industry “damaged my peace, imaanand my relationship with Allah.”

Dangal actress Zaira Wasim’s announcement that she’s quitting films because of religious reasons has severely polarised opinion. Many responses have applauded her decision, others say her choice must be respected, and still others have criticised her as being regressive – actress Raveena Tandon is among the latter. “Doesn’t matter if two-film olds are ungrateful to the industry that have given them all. Just wish they’d exit gracefully and keep their regressive views to themselves.” In a separate tweet responding to one from AltNews founder Pratik Sinha, Ms Tandon wrote: “Exit is your choice, reason, by all means. Just do not demean it for everyone else.” Raveena Tandon also described the film industry as “one where all work shoulder to shoulder, no difference in caste and religion.”

Read Raveena Tandon’s tweets here:

Raveena Tandon✔@TandonRaveena

I standby and love my industry,all the opportunities it gives to everyone. Exit is your choice,reason,by all means.Just do not demean it for everyone else.The industry where all work shoulder to shoulder,no differences,caste,religion or where you come from. #Respect #indianfilms https://twitter.com/free_thinker/status/1145419570829619200 …Pratik Sinha✔@free_thinkerIt is sad to see a young adult throw away a promising career and her decision to do so being rooted in religion. We need more Zairas to break away from the clutches of religion and become successful individuals, and not the other way round.9545:09 AM – Jul 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy210 people are talking about this

Zaira Wasim, 18, announced on social media over the weekend that “I am not truly happy with this identity i.e my line of work” and described the workings of Bollywood as an “environment that damaged my peace, imaan and my relationship with Allah.” Ms Wasim made her debut in Aamir Khan’s 2016 film Dangal, for which she won the National Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her second film, Secret Superstar – also an Aamir Khan production and featuring him in a supporting role – won Ms Wasim the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. Zaira Wasim has a third film in production, The Sky Is Pink, co-starring Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar.

With two critically-acclaimed films behind her and a third on its way, Zaira Wasim was considered one of Bollywood’s best young talents. So her post on Saturday came as a surprise to many; in it, she explained that she was unprepared for the trappings of fame and ‘public attention’ and that she had ‘never set out to do or become’ a ‘role model for the youth.’

In her post, Zaira Wasim explained she realised “that though I may fit here perfectly, I do not belong here.” Acknowledging that she received “a lot of love, support, and applause,” Ms Wasim also said that her choice of profession clashed with her faith: “What it also did was to lead me to a path of ignorance, as I silently and unconsciously transitioned out of imaan (faith). While I continued to work in an environment that consistently interfered with my imaan, my relationship with my religion was threatened. I discovered my lack of knowledge of the basic fundamentals of my religion and how my inability to reinforce a change earlier was a result of confusing my heart’s contentment and wellbeing with strengthening and satisfying my own (shallow and worldly) desires.”

In many responses to her post, Zaira Wasim has been reminded that the film industry is one in which the three biggest and most powerful stars are Muslim – Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh Khan. Many point out that some of Bollywood’s most beloved female stars have been Muslim – Waheeda Rahman, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nargis, Shabana Azmi, Parveen Babi, Zeenat Aman and many more. Other tweets, like Kashmir politician Omar Abdullah, simply wish Ms Wasim well.

Omar Abdullah✔@OmarAbdullah

Who are any of us to question @ZairaWasimmm’s choices? It’s her life to do with as she pleases. All I will do is wish her well & hope that what ever she does makes her happy.5,69512:26 PM – Jun 30, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy1,750 people are talking about thisCOMMENT

Some reactions on Twitter remind everyone that Zaira Wasim is very young and has previously spoken about battling depression. Last year, Ms Wasim revealed that she had been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression and that she dealt with suicidal thoughts, self-loathing and nervous breakdowns. In 2017, Zaira Wasim posted and then deleted a Facebook apology after being brutally trolled for meeting then Jammu And Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Nollywood rallied to Ms Wasim’s side; her Dangal and Secret Superstar co-star Aamir Khan posted a statement of support. Anupam Kher, Javed Akhtar, Swara Bhasker and others from the film fraternity also posted messages.

Showbiz Round Up By: Shaheen Raaj ‘The Tashkent Files’ Completes A 50 Day Run A 50 days completion party of the film The Tashkent Files was recently celebrated with the birthday party of AD Films Haresh Patel. Pranay Chokshi of SP Cine Corporation & Haresh Patel of AD Films along With Vivek Agnihotri & Pallavi Joshi invited the cast & the crew of their film The Tashkent Files on completing the 50 days run in cinemas. The party was organized at the Little Door venue in Andheri (w) Mumbai. Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Hrishita Bhatt, Durga Jasraj, Shweta Basu Prasad, Padmini Kolhapure, Anu Malik, Sonu Nigam, Madhur Bhandarkar, Abbas Mastan, Jayantilal Gada of Pen India Ltd & above all Ganesh Jain Of Venus Records also came specially to be part of this grand party. Haresh Patel also celebrated his birthday with the cast, the crew & above all his friends. The party went on till the wee hours of the morning.

Arjun Mathar Plays A Gay Man In Amazon Series ‘Made In Heaven’ BY: Shaheen Raaj

Arjun Mathur is a Bollywood actor making a name for himself on the hit new Amazon series Made In Heaven. The show follows 2 wedding planners from Delhi who runs an agency called Made in Heaven. In which Arjun Mathur enacts the role of Karan Mehra, the openly gay lead.

The series is Amazonseries’ 4^th Indian original series & has proven to be such a hit that it was even picked up for a 2^nd Season just 1 month after the Season 1 premiere back in Mar, 2019.

Since then, Arjun Mathur has seen his popularity skyrocket & he’s enjoyed a steady uptick in social media platform followers, particularly among the tribe of the gay men.

In a telephonic interaction Arjun Mathur says, “Nobody ever came up to me & asked if I’m gay. I have enacted the role of gay characters twice before, in Onir’s film I Am & & celebrity director Mira Nair’s short film Migration.”

Arjun Mathur continued further, “In real life, it’s understood that I’m an actor. But on Instagram, people want to know if I’m gay. After Made In Heaven, I have been receiving messages of all kinds from downright dirty to appreciative to “marry me.”

While this is all very flattering, Arjun Mathur says he still hasn’t quite figured out how to navigate the situation, especially the “dirty messages.” (We regret to inform you that Arjun Mathur is as straight as a Bamboo stick.)

The 37-year-old adds that he’s also had people reach out to say his portrayal of a gay man has helped to open their hearts and minds about LGBTQ people.

“A 35-year-old mother of two wrote to me saying that homosexuals always made her a little uncomfortable,” he explains. “But, the show totally changed her outlook, and now even if both her kids grow up to be gay, she’s going to love them and be proud of them.”

“So, the depth at which [my portrayal of a gay character] has penetrated and touched people, is amazing. To be able to touch people like this is very special.”